Woman arrested after toddler hit by car

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 30-year-old woman driver was arrested yesterday on suspicion of critically injuring a 3-year-old toddler on Sunday in a Palama neighborhood, apparently by running into the girl as she was playing.

The toddler remained in critical condition today at Queen's Medical Center.

The driver of the car that hit the girl left the scene and police said the driver may not have realized the girl was hit.

The suspect, a Kalihi resident, was arrested for failure to render aid.

The accident occurred about 2:45 p.m on Pua Lane, between Vineyard Boulevard and Kanoa Street., police said.

The girl was playing near 1211 Pua Lane when she wandered off and was later found lying injured on the side of the road.

A CrimeStoppers bulletin was issued yesterday to find witnesses of any cars in the area. This led to the description of a light blue 1982 Subaru, which was found about 7:20 last night in the Kamehameha IV Road and Rose Street area.

An inspection of the car produced information identifying the suspect, who then was arrested, said James Addison, detective in the vehicular homicide section of the police department.

The child is small, standing below a car's hood level, and very likely was struck unseen by the driver, said Letha DeCaires, the police department's CrimeStoppers coordinator. Also, she said, the mauka segment of Pua Lane is narrow and congested.

"Fifteen years ago, that was my beat," DeCaires said. "The neighbors have done a lot to improve things, with the abandoned cars there, but it's still very narrow, and there are lots of kids, lots of families."